Obs. [a. OF. superfice or ad. its source, L. SUPERFICIES.]
1. Geom. SUPERFICIES 1.
c. 1391. Chaucer, Astrol., I. § 21. The zodiak in heuene is ymagened to ben a superfice contienyng a latitude of 12 degrees.
c. 1643. Ld. Herbert, Autobiog. (1824), 44. The knowledge of lines, superfices, and bodies,… is not much useful for a gentleman unless it be to understand Fortifications.
1695. Alingham, Geom. Epit., 4. The kinds of Magnitude, which are principally Three, to wit, Length, Breadth and Thickness, or a Line, a Superfice, and a Solid.
1823. J. Mitchell, Dict. Math. & Phys. Sci., Superficies, or Superfice, in Geometry, the outside or exterior surface of any body. This is considered as of two dimensions, viz. length and breadth, but without thickness.
2. The surface of a body or object; = SUPERFICIES 2.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., III. pr. viii. (1868), 81. Þe body of alcibiades þat was ful fayr in þe superfice wiþ oute.
1549. Compl. Scot., vi. 56. The superfice of that roundnes is of mair quantite nor is the space or largenes that is betuix his tua een.
1599. Alex. Hume, Hymns, iii. 93. The fields, and earthly superfice, With verdure greene is spread.
1636. Brathwait, Rom. Emp., 276. The whole superfice of the Sea was covered with them.
a. 1684. Leighton, Comm. 1 Pet. i. 2 (1693), 16. [It] doth not wither as the grasse, or power lying on the superfice of the earth.
1703. Phil. Trans., XXIII. 1401. Hard and perfect Stone … of a Grain and Superfice exactly like those I have seen taken out of the Bladder.
1813. Vancouver, Agric. Devon, 117. [It] is discharged with such a hollow or concave superfice downwards, as completely to whelm over and invert every square inch of the lifted furrow.
b. transf. That which forms, or is upon, the surface.
1542. Boorde, Dyetary, xiii. (1870), 265. Euery thyng that is vnctious … doth swymme aboue in the brynkes of the stomacke:… the excesse of suche nawtacyon or superfyce wyll ascende to the or[if]yse of the stomacke.
3. fig. Outward show or appearance; SUPERFICIES 5 c.
1678. R. Barclay, Apol. Quakers, ii. § 2. 23. The more Serious … satisfie themselves not with the Superfice of Religion.
a. 1684. Leighton, Comm. 1 Pet. iii. 8, Wks. (1868), 160. This courteousness is not contrary to that evil, only in the superfice and outward behaviour.
